Hole saw trick

[J. Mark]

I have seen the suggestion many times to cut a hole with a hole saw, While this is not a big deal, this may make for a little neater job.

Intsead of using the hole that was removed to fill the hole afterwords, take the next size up hole saw (1/8 inch larger is close to perfect)and drill a hole through a scrap of wood. Now remove the guide drill bit from the hole saw and clamp the scrap wood to a piece of wood you want to actually plug the hole with. Drill through the second board using the hole in the scrap to stabilize the drill and cut a filler plug. Sand the edges enough to get a snug fit and fill your hole as normal, without a gap around the edges or a hole in the middle.

I've used this method to repair damage to hardwood floors and thought some of the more . . . particular folks here might like this method for repairing inspection holes.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Hole saw trick

good idea.

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Hole saw trick

a complete waste of time if you ask me, but some folks like things to look real pretty.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Hole saw trick

I just make a plug using a drill press and a fixed size, one piece bi-metal hole saw... those are rigid enough to not need support.

Good idea, though.

Erik

 

[Mark42]

Re: Hole saw trick

I'm supposed to plug the hole!!!??? DOH!

 

[clemsparks]

Re: Hole saw trick

I don't understand how you clamp the guide circle to the material you're cutting...

Thanks,
Clem

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Hole saw trick

With a clamp? You are just cutting aplug out of a scrap of wood, not the floor. Use a standard holesaw to cut the floor.

 

[clemsparks]

Re: Hole saw trick

Apparently I'm not picturing this process correctly then.

My understanding is that one uses the scrap plug as a guide for the holesaw without a pilot drill. If you clamp this scrap plug to a piece of plywood, you're going to saw the clamp...

Like I said, I may just be envisioning the process incorrectly.

Clem

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Hole saw trick

Apparently I'm not picturing this process correctly then.

My understanding is that one uses the scrap plug as a guide for the holesaw without a pilot drill. If you clamp this scrap plug to a piece of plywood, you're going to saw the clamp...

Like I said, I may just be envisioning the process incorrectly.

Clem

Nope...you have it backwards.
Lets say you are after a 2" plug, get your 2-1/8" cutter and cut a hole in a piece of scrap.
Clamp the scrap WITH THE HOLE CUT IN IT, i.e. the doughnut not the doughnut hole, to the wood from which you want to cut your good plug.
Now use your 2" cutter without the guide bit...it should nest inside the hole cut with the 2-1/8" cutter ....that hole serves as the guide.

 

[eavega]

Re: Hole saw trick

I have seen the suggestion many times to cut a hole with a hole saw, While this is not a big deal, this may make for a little neater job.

Intsead of using the hole that was removed to fill the hole afterwords, take the next size up hole saw (1/8 inch larger is close to perfect)and drill a hole through a scrap of wood. Now remove the guide drill bit from the hole saw and clamp the scrap wood to a piece of wood you want to actually plug the hole with. Drill through the second board using the hole in the scrap to stabilize the drill and cut a filler plug. Sand the edges enough to get a snug fit and fill your hole as normal, without a gap around the edges or a hole in the middle.

I've used this method to repair damage to hardwood floors and thought some of the more . . . particular folks here might like this method for repairing inspection holes.

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to say thanks for posting this tip. I just got my inspection holes repaired, and this worked like a champ. I can add a suggestion to make it even easier.

I stepped up 1/8" to cut the plug, but still had to sand either the plug or the inspection hole in order to get the fit right. Here was my solution:

Instead of sanding the plug down, I sanded the inspection hole a little wider. I took the hole saw I used to cut the hole in the deck, and wrapped it once with a piece of 60-grit sandpaper. I then then used it like a drum sander to widen the hole ever so slightly, but still perfectly round. After doing that, the plug fit easily and snugly and I was able to complete the repair.

-E